FACE to Face

We hope you had a joyful and restful holiday season! As we kick off the new year, we are excited to reconnect and continue our shared journey of supporting our students and families. SSD's FACE (Family and Community Engagement) is thrilled to bring you a new year filled with opportunities to strengthen partnerships, engage in meaningful networking, and empower our students and families to thrive.

This semester, we are rolling out several exciting events and initiatives designed to support students and families, foster partnerships, and enhance the learning outcomes for our students. From family workshops to community-building activities, there’s something for everyone, and we want YOU to be a part of it!

Your involvement plays a crucial role in shaping the future of our students and our community. Whether you attend an event, participate in a workshop, or simply share your thoughts and ideas with us, we encourage you to stay engaged and take part in these valuable opportunities.

Together, we can make this a year of growth, connection, and success for all. Thank you for your continued support – we look forward to partnering with you throughout the year to create a positive impact on our students' education and well-being.

Wishing you a prosperous New Year,

The Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Division

Join us Saturday, March 8, 2025 from 9AM to noon, for a fun and informative event designed to engage families! Whether you're navigating the world of special education or looking for inclusive community resources, we’ve got you covered.

👩‍🏫 Guest Speakers & Experts

Gain valuable insights from experts in special education advocacy who will guide you through understanding your rights and navigating the system. Feel free to join one of their two, 30-minute learning sessions throughout the event.

💰 Funding Resources

Discover funding opportunities and resources to support your child's development, summer recreation options, and more.

🎉 Recreation Opportunities

Learn about fun and inclusive recreational activities that are perfect for your family, helping to enrich your child's life outside the classroom. from summer camp vendors throughout the area. Vendors will be available to speak with families throughout the event.

This event is FREE and family-friendly, with plenty of opportunities to connect with others in our community. Don’t miss out on this incredible day of learning and support!

📅 Date: Saturday, March 8, 2025

⏰ Time: 9 AM - Noon

📍 Location: Neuwoehner High School, 12112 Clayton Rd, Town and Country, MO 63131

Let’s work together to unlock new opportunities for your family’s success! See you there! 🎈

Join FACE for Family Cafe! Cafes are hosted by families for families. They provide families and caregivers with a safe and welcoming space to connect and learn from each other. They are centered on the Strengthening Families Protective Factors: Resilience, Relationships, Knowledge, Support, and Communication.

Family Cafes are hosted in the South Tech High School Library (12721 West Watson Road, St. Louis, MO 63127).

Interpreters can be provided but must be scheduled in advance. Please contact a FACE representative by emailing face@ssdmo.org. Childcare is not provided for these events.

This course is a continuation of the introductory ASL taught by Valerie Lancer. This intermediate course is for those who are familiar with basic signs and fingerspelling. Classes take place at SSD's Central Office at 5:30 - 8 PM on February 4, 18, and March 4th. March 13th is available as a makeup session, if needed.

Family Leadership Institute (FLI) participants have the opportunity to learn about special education from educational leaders and family experts. FLI seeks to build your knowledge of processes, tools, and available resources within SSD. It's also a great time to network and learn from other families.

FLI is held during three in-person sessions at SSD's Central Office, from 5:30-8 PM. This year's dates and topics are:

• April 10, 2025 - Supporting Self-Determination in Your Student
• April 17, 2025 - Special Education Process: Advocating During an IEP Meeting and Beyond
• April 24, 2025 - Utilizing Charting the LifeCourse Tools to Communicate and Plan for Your Student

Registration for this event is required, as space is limited. Learn more about FLI and hear testimonials from FLI Graduates on FACE's webpage.

Visit with partners in the Family Resource Hub, located inside North Tech High School, as they provide resources, information, and additional supports to our families.

Community Action Agency of St. Louis County (CAASTLC) provides our community with additional support and access to resources that promote healthy families and thriving communities. A representative from CASSTLC will be available to provide information and access to many of their programs, including the Low-Income Home Energy Program (LIHEAP) and Water Assistance Program (LIWAP).

CAASTLC will be available on Jan. 24, Feb. 21, and March 28 from 10 AM - 2 PM.

Introducing the support of Children's Division Prevention Team the Family Resource Hub will share face with Kamesha Stewart, Community Prevention Worker. Ms. Stewart will be available on Tuesdays to support families. The Primary Prevention Team, part of Children’s Division, connects families with resources to prevent child maltreatment. Their goal is to collaborate with community partners and empower families, ensuring children are raised with the support of their natural networks whenever possible. To learn more, please feel free to contact Ms. Stewart by calling 314- 320-9634 or by emailing Kamesha.Stewart@dss.mo.gov.

SSD's FACE welcomes all families into Special School District with a Virtual Open House. Families can receive an introduction to the services and resources available through SSD. These virtual meetings invite all families into our learning community as equal partners throughout the learning process, symbolizing that FACE's door is always open!

SSD’s FACE is excited to continue our virtual Lunch & Learn series for SSD families and stakeholders, involving community organizations sharing information about their work. Representatives from community organizations and SSD departments will participate to increase awareness about their agencies or programs and make connections with those in our SSD community who may benefit from their programs and services.

Events are held virtually through YouTube Live. Videos will not be available to view until their scheduled date and time.

Join us as Jessica Miller with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, (DVR), shares valuable information with families.

Join us as Rachel Cox, Department of Mental Health shares information about State and Federal Eligibility to support your student and family.

Will Hack is a staff attorney at Missouri Protection and Advocacy Services, a nonprofit law firm that represents people with disabilities. Will is a leader in Missouri's Supported Decision-Making Consortium, which promotes alternatives to guardianship. Will is the proud father of a young student in SSD with autism, and pet-dad to 3 cats and 4 chickens.

Transitions can be scary. Join this webinar to learn strategies to help you and your preschool child move smoothly from the early childhood setting to kindergarten. Participants will receive ideas concerning what to do before kindergarten starts, first-day items, and ways to monitor their progress. You can prepare for this exciting milestone, and FACE has many ideas to share. Our speaker , LaDonna Ellis (FACE Coordinator), has over 25 years experience supporting children and families in the early childhood arena and is excited to share what she has learned.

The Family Toolkit provides helpful information for families to navigate SSD special education services and support. While not comprehensive, it offers a starting point for families to find the resources they need to support their student.

Looking for great resources to help your family learn and grow together? Check out SSD's YouTube channel and the FACE Workshops playlist! We have a wide variety of content available on demand, including tutorials, educational videos, and more.

We invite you to take part in our annual family engagement survey. Your feedback helps guide our planning, programming, and support for our district and community partners. Ever wonder how we make decisions? It's a data-driven process, and your input plays a key role in shaping our plans. The survey opens on Monday, January 6th and will close on Friday, January 31st. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.